A man claiming to be a member of al Qaeda has been arrested by French police in Lyon after he tried to hijack an Alitalia flight from Bologna to Paris. The Italian man went to the cockpit with what appeared to be a remote control device and threatened to blow up the plane which had 67 passengers and seven crewmembers on board, police sources told CNN. CNN correspondent Alessio Vinci said: "The man had previously attempted to hijack a Marseilles to Paris flight and he had a history of mental problems and previous criminal convictions. He had been holding something like a remote control, and nobody at the time was sure whether it was connected to anything. He asked the pilots to land the plane, where he let everyone off and then came out himself and was arrested. It was a most bizarre hijack attempt."
Y'know, maybe it would be a good idea, if somebody tries to hijack a Marseilles to Paris flight, you don't let him get aboard the Bologna to Paris flight? I know that's an imposition, but really, it would be best. Perhaps he could hijack a bus next time, eh? Or a taxi?
Vinci said security has been extrememly stringent in France since September 11 so it is a mystery how he managed to board the flight. The plane is now standing on the tarmac at Lyon airport and all passengers and crew have left the aircraft. Marie Folch, a Lyon city official, told CNN the man had been identified as 29-year-old Stefano Sabarini. |